Theresa May will promise to institute workers’ representation on boards and introduce binding votes on executive pay if she becomes prime minister, in a speech to be delivered at the launch of her campaign for Conservative Party leadership in Birmingham Monday.
May will also pledge to create “a vision of a country that works for everyone — not just the privileged few,” according to an advance copy of her speech sent to the press, and will emphasize her “proven leadership.”
While May backed Remain during the EU referendum campaign, her speech will quash doubts that she would not pull the plug on Britain’s EU membership if chosen to lead the party.
“Brexit means Brexit, and we’re going to make a success of it,” May is expected to say.
In an appeal to disaffected Leave voters and Labour’s traditional working-class backers, May will also use her maiden campaign speech to emphasize the need for more equality in Britain.
“Right now, if you’re born poor, you will die on average nine years earlier than others. If you’re black, you’re treated more harshly by the criminal justice system than if you’re white … If you’re from a working-class family, life is just much harder than many people in politics realize,” she will say, according to the advance speech text. “The Conservative Party will put itself completely, absolutely, unequivocally, at the service of working people.”
Tory party members will choose either May or her rival, Andrea Leadsom, to be the next leader of the Conservative Party, and therefore the prime minister, in voting during the summer. The ballot closes September 9.